Greenville Traffic Violations Lawyer
Traffic charges in Greenville can mean points, fines, and a suspended license.
- Former state and federal prosecutorsSloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton
- U.S. Attorney's Award for Excellence in Prosecution2020 and 2021
- Free consultation, with an attorneyNot an intake screener
A traffic charge in South Carolina can mean two very different things. Some offenses are resolved with a fine and points, while others are criminal charges that carry jail time and leave a record a criminal background check will find.
Our Greenville traffic violations lawyers at Ironside Criminal Defense can tell you which side of that line your charge falls on. Both of our managing attorneys are former state and federal prosecutors, and they both work every case together.
When a Traffic Ticket Becomes a Criminal Charge
Some traffic violations carry a possible jail sentence. Most speeding and moving violations do not. However, driving under suspension, hit and run, and DUI can be misdemeanors or felonies, which are criminal offenses a court can punish with jail and that stay on a criminal record.
Where your case is heard is another indicator of how serious the charge is. Most traffic offenses in Greenville County are handled in magistrate court, the county court for lower-level offenses, or in municipal court if you were stopped inside city limits. More serious charges go to the Court of General Sessions. Your ticket or your arrest paperwork will name the court and the date you are required to appear.
Traffic Charges We Handle in Greenville
A traffic charge should not define the rest of your life. Our Greenville traffic violations lawyers handle speeding, reckless driving, and other moving violations that carry points. These are the three charges that most clients reach out to us about:
- DUI. A DUI charge has several moving parts and carries serious consequences, especially when someone has been hurt.
- Driving Under Suspension. Driving while your license is suspended usually gives you an additional criminal charge, on top of whatever caused the suspension in the first place.
- Hit and Run. Leaving the scene is a serious charge. An accident with property damage alone is treated very differently from one where someone was injured.
Repeat convictions can also add up to habitual traffic offender status, a designation under South Carolina law that affects both your criminal record and your driving record.
How Points Work on a South Carolina License
Points attach when you are convicted, and South Carolina defines conviction broadly here. It includes a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, and forfeiting the bail or collateral you posted to guarantee your appearance in court.
Twelve points is the threshold. Once a driver reaches twelve points, the South Carolina DMV may suspend the license for up to six months. Points are reduced by half one year after the violation date on the ticket. A driver on a beginner's permit, a conditional license, or a special restricted license reaches suspension sooner, at six or more points, for six months.
These are the point values South Carolina assigns to the violations Greenville drivers see most often:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 6 |
| Hit and run, property damage only | 6 |
| Speeding, no more than 10 mph above the posted limit | 2 |
| Speeding, more than 10 but less than 25 mph above the posted limit | 4 |
| Speeding, 25 mph or more above the posted limit | 6 |
| Disobedience of an official traffic control device | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Distracted driving, second or subsequent offense | 2 |
What South Carolina's Hands-Free Law Changed
South Carolina's hands-free law took effect on September 1, 2025. It added distracted driving to the point schedule and made it an offense to hold or support a mobile device with any part of your body while driving.
A first offense is a $100 fine and no points. A second or later offense is a $200 fine and two points. Officers issued warnings only for the first 180 days, and citations began on February 28, 2026. Because the points attach only to a second or later offense, a first citation does not move you toward a suspension.
What a Traffic Conviction Reaches Beyond the Fine
A traffic conviction reaches further than the fine:
- Your license. Points build toward a suspension, and a suspension creates a problem of its own, including a new criminal charge if you drive anyway.
- Your job. Work that depends on driving is the first thing at risk. For a commercial driver, a conviction in a personal vehicle can still reach the commercial license, and the rules there are stricter.
- Your insurance. Insurers see convictions on your driving record. They can decide how it will affect your policy.
- Your record. A misdemeanor traffic conviction is a criminal conviction, and it appears where background checks look.
- Your immigration status. Certain traffic charges can affect immigration status. We look at that before advising anyone who is not a United States citizen.
- Brandi Hinton
"People often think it is in their best interest to handle a driving offense on their own without a lawyer. However, because driving offenses are extremely technical and can have consequences beyond what most people are aware of, it is best to hire a lawyer to assist you."
- Brandi Hinton, Managing Attorney
Should You Pay the Ticket or Go in Front of a Judge?
Paying a ticket ends the inconvenience, not the consequence. Simply paying still puts a conviction on your driving record, adds the points that come with it, and reaches your criminal record if the offense is a misdemeanor.
When our attorneys explain your options, what they look at first is whether the charge can be resolved another way: whether it can be reduced to an offense carrying fewer points or none, whether the stop and the evidence behind it hold up, and whether a diversion program is available for this charge and this record. It is important that you make an educated decision before simply paying the ticket, as it can lead to future consequences.
If You Are Reading This for Someone Else
About half of the calls we get come from a partner, a parent, or a grandparent. You do not need to understand the terminology to be able to help.
If your loved one cannot seek representation on their own, start by finding the ticket or the arrest paperwork and looking for the court date printed on it. Write down the charge exactly as it appears, word for word. A small difference in wording can change which offense it is. Bring both to the consultation.
You do not need to have the answers before you call. Tell us what you know and we will explain what happens next.
Talk With Us Before You Decide What to Do With Your Ticket
If you have been charged with a traffic violation in Greenville, we are here to help you figure out what happens next. Bring us your ticket, or any paperwork you may have if there was an arrest, and we will tell you what you are facing. Our attorneys offer free consultations, and the attorney you talk to is the one who would handle your case. Give us a call at 864-568-4750 or reach our team through our contact page.
A charge doesn't have to define your future
What comes next depends on how you move forward from it. Tell us what happened, and we will tell you what you are facing. Our consultations are free, and with an attorney.
- [email protected]
- Office
- 21 Augusta Street, Suite C
Greenville, SC 29601 - Consultations
- Free, and with an attorney. Sloan or Brandi reads every inquiry.